Neven Šprlje, director of the EU Program Audit Agency (ARPA), and Dr. Mirta Kapural, president of the Croatian Competition Authority (AZTN), have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at improving collaboration between the two institutions.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in the area of competition protection during public procurement reviews under ARPA's jurisdiction, ensuring effective competition in Croatia.

Collaboration will include the exchange of expert opinions, experiences, data, and information of mutual interest, as well as providing technical assistance in relevant cases. ARPA will be able to submit initiatives to AZTN regarding potential competition violations in public procurement processes.

In addition to information exchange and direct cooperation on specific cases, the agreement also provides for ongoing education for experts from both AZTN and ARPA in competition protection and related areas, including joint organization of training sessions, workshops, and conferences, as well as collaboration on EU-funded projects and other international activities of mutual interest.

The signing of this agreement will further enhance the cooperation between AZTN and ARPA, strengthening the institutional framework for effective competition protection in public procurement processes.